Preview: Atlanta United vs. Nashville SC - prediction, team news, lineups

Looking to maintain their perfect home record this term, Atlanta United welcome Nashville SC to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the away side have made an unbeaten start to the season, so something will have to give when the teams meet.

Match preview

© Reuters

Atlanta United were held to a second consecutive stalemate on the road by Seattle Sounders in a 1-1 draw at the CenturyLink Field on Sunday.

Raul Ruidiaz opened the scoring for the hosts after just six minutes, before Josef Martinez restored parity in the 86th minute from the penalty spot.

Gabriel Heinze's men are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference as things stand, five points off the top with a game in hand.

Their next assignment comes up against a team whom they have beaten in two of the three previous meetings prior to this weekend's clash.

However, the only defeat in that time came in the sides' most recent encounter, which was a 4-2 thriller at the Nissan Stadium back in September.

© Reuters

Nashville SC were victorious at home for the second game running courtesy of a narrow 1-0 triumph over Austin FC on Monday.

Randall Leal's strike 10 minutes before half time proved to be the winner for his side on a day when they squandered a number of good opportunities to seal the deal.

Gary Smith's men have now kept four clean sheets in a row, and this has formed the bedrock for a run which has seen them pick up eight of the last 12 points available.

Saturday's visitors are in fourth place at the moment, a point above the hosts who would usurp them should they manage to claim all three points.

Team News

© Reuters

Nashville's Abu Danladi is still yet to feature this term owing to a muscle injury which is set to keep him out of Saturday's game.

Brian Anunga and Daniel Rios are also ruled out of the visitors' trip to Atlanta through knee and foot injuries respectively.

Ezequiel Barco is expected to be unavailable for the hosts as the Argentine remains sidelined with a hamstring problem.

Jurgen Damm and Alan Franco are major doubts for the clash having both sat out the draw versus Seattle last time out.

Josef Martinez is still yet to score on home turf this season, but he has found the back of the net in each of his last two games on the road.

Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Walkes, Sosa, Robinson; Bello, Hyndman, Ibarra, Lennon; Lopez, Moreno, Martinez

Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Lovitz, Romney, Zimmerman, Johnston; Muyl, McCarty, Godoy, Leal; Cadiz, Sapong

We say: Atlanta United 2-1 Nashville SC

Both teams have made relatively good starts to the season after the first six rounds of matches. We expect a very even contest here with the home team just edging their visitors by a narrow margin.